Essential Key Things to Keep in Mind for Travelers Planning a Trip to Dubai
In a world full of comparisons, Dubai city stands unique and unmatched. It is the city where you will find the world's tallest building, largest mall, largest artificial island, and most luxurious hotel.
In addition to being the most visited city in the world, Dubai has become a popular destination for people looking for work and for remote workers.
Whether you are planning to visit Dubai for work, meetings, family, or vacation, it is important to understand the UAE visit visa for easy planning.
In this article, we will discuss essential key things to remember for travelers planning a trip to Dubai.
Content:
What expenses should travelers expect?
Essential cultural and etiquette tips to keep in mind
Which are the must-see tourist spots?
How secure is the destination?
Local cuisine and beverages to try
How reliable is the Wi-Fi?
What is the maximum duration of stay permitted?
What Expenses Should Travelers Expect?
First and foremost, the major expense you can expect when traveling to Dubai is accommodation. Depending on your budget, there are wide choices of places to stay in Dubai. However, you should know that Dubai can be one of the world's least expensive travel destination if you plan properly.
If you are traveling on a budget, all you have to do is avoid staying at an expensive hotel, book a budget hotel, and cease luxury shopping. By doing this, you will enjoy your stay in Dubai without breaking your bank account.
If you have enough to spend, there are luxurious hotels, uber-luxurious vacations, luxurious shopping, and many other things to do in Dubai.
The currency you will be issuing in Dubai is Dirham or AED. As of March 28, 2023, the exchange rate is 1 AED = 0.27 USD or 1 USD = 3.67 AED.
Accommodation
The hotel prices drop in Dubai during the off-season, usually in summer when the sun is scorching and unfavorable for tourists.
On the contrary, during peak season, which runs from October to May, hotel prices tend to be high because of the demand. Below are the hotel prices you can expect during the peak season in Dubai:
Average hotel price: During high season, an average hotel in Dubai charges $225 per night.
Luxury 5-star hotels: Luxury 5-star hotels in Dubai charge approximately $518 per night. There are also famous hotels, such as Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, which charge $2989 per night per room.
If you’re on a budget: You will pay around $30-$60 per night for a bed in a hostel.
Food
The amount of money one spends on food in Dubai can significantly change from person to person, based on their preferences and hobbies.
It will roughly cost around $80 for two people to enjoy a three-course meal at a mid-priced restaurant in Dubai. You can expect to pay approximately $11 for a supper at an inexpensive restaurant. A bottle of beer in a restaurant will cost you approximately $13, while a cappuccino will cost you approximately $5.
Transportation
Tickets for Dubai's public transportation are cheap, costing anywhere from $0.80 to $2, depending on how far the passenger is going.
Taxi fares start at $3; for every mile driven, an extra $1.30 is added. Uber and Careem are ride-hailing services, but Uber charges a little more than Careem.
Essential Cultural and Etiquette Tips to Keep in Mind
The United Arab Emirates is an Islamic country, so tourists must respect local customs, especially outside hotels, entertainment venues, and places where people go out at night.
Even though Dubai is known as one of the most modern cities in the Middle East, it is important to respect the city's traditional way of life.
Even though the city keeps relaxing many of its rules to attract more tourists from other countries, visitors should still know what is expected of them.
Dress Modestly
When going out in public, it is expected that you cover your cleavage, shoulders, and legs in Dubai. You do not need to cover your entire body, but you should bring a scarf with you if you need to drape it over your shoulders.
Avoid Public Display of Affection
Public display of affection, for example, kissing or holding hands in public, are not allowed in Dubai.
Even though people sometimes show affection in public, it's best to avoid touching your partner as much as possible.
Refrain from Public Intoxication and Misconduct
If you're out having a good time, you should take precautions to ensure your behavior doesn't get out of hand when you leave the bar or nightclub.
Avoid Traveling During Ramadan
Even though it is technically possible to take a holiday in Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan, it is not recommended.
Even tourists are expected to follow the rules of Ramadan when they are out in public. This means they should refrain from eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset. Hotels and shopping malls often set aside parts of their restaurants so guests can eat there during the day, but many other places are closed.
Which Are the Must-see Tourist Spots?
Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain is the world's largest orchestrated water fountain. It is a part of the beautiful Burj Complex.
This dancing fountain can reach up to 150 meters in height and moves in perfect sync with music from all over the world, such as Arabic and classical music. WET, a company based in California, made this fountain, which makes beautiful arcs and moves to the beat of the music. The Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas are also the work of WET.
The show runs every night and the best way to get there is through the Dubai Mall.
Burj Khalifa
For those of you, who are interested in catching a city view from the world's tallest tower, the At the Top Burj Khalifa trip is a must-do. This tour gives visitors a mesmerizing perspective of the horizon from the very top of the building.
The At the Top tour and the At the Top SKY trip will take you to one of the highest observation decks in the world. Both tours are designed while keeping tourists in mind from the very beginning.
Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the world. It is where the Dubai Shopping Festival takes place and is more than 500,000 square meters big.
With more than 1200 stores, a large aquarium that you can walk through, a top-notch ice rink, 14,000 parking spots, and many fun things to do, this mall has much to offer.
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame, located in Zabeel Park, is the biggest frame structure in the world. It was made to look like the logo for the 2020 World Expo.
The main things to see and do there are the galleries with audiovisual projections and models of the city's past, present, and future, as well as the glass bridge walkway. Through the frame, you can see a wide view of Dubai's old and new parts, from Deira's Old Town to the Dubai Marina!
Miracle Garden Dubai
The Miracle Garden is one of the world's most beautiful and large natural flower gardens. The park is in DubaiLand and is about 72,000 square meters in size. It is the world's biggest natural flower garden, with more than 45 million different kinds of plants and flowers.
People looking for nature's beauty in the middle of the city will find paradise here. You can only get to the garden in the months of mid-November to mid-May.
Museum of Future
The Museum of the Future, located in Dubai's Financial District, bridges the gap between the present and the future by using new and old art forms.
It has three parts: the empty space, the building, and the green hill. By bringing together researchers, ecologists, financiers, and environmentalists, the museum hopes to come up with solutions to problems that cities may face.
It's the most recent architectural marvel is a seven-story building that opened in Dubai in February 2022 and has been a big hit with tourists ever since.
Dubai Gold Souk
The world's biggest gold market is in the Dubai Deira gold souk. Because the gold's quality and designs on sale are so high, this golden souk has become the most well-known and visited place in Dubai.
At the Gold Souk, where there are more than 350 jewelry shops and shops that sell gold, at least 10 tons of gold are added daily.
Palm Jumeirah
The beautiful Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is an artificial island chain stretching into the Persian Gulf. When viewed from above, the archipelago looks like a palm tree with a circle attached to it.
It was one of the first big tourist developments in the United Arab Emirates. It is now home to some of Dubai's most popular tourist spots, like Atlantis, the Palm, Aquaventure Waterpark, and the Lost Chambers Aquarium.
Dubai Aquarium
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is home to more than 33,000 marine animals and is situated on the ground level of the Dubai Mall. The tank contains 10 million liters of water and is home to the aquarium.
The level above the tank is home to a one-of-a-kind underwater zoo that displays a wide variety of marine life native to the world's seas, rivers, and other water bodies. Visitors can learn about the diverse ecosystems that these aquatic environments support.
The final part of the experience is known as the VR Zoo that provides exhilarating wildlife excursions in the form of realistically crafted virtual tours.
Atlantis the Palm
The Atlantis Resort is the first resort built on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah Island. The island has a private sandy beach and a lot of five-star amenities. This resort is based on the story of Atlantis and has beautiful views of the Arabian Gulf. Also, the resort's design has a few Arabian touches that make it stand out.
Palm Atlantis is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Visitors can swim with dolphins and see an underwater aquarium there.
How Secure is the destination?
Dubai is always ranked as one of the safest cities in the world because of its low crime rate. Still, there are a few things that travelers should keep in mind when traveling to Dubai:
Watch out for pickpocketers
Keep an eye out for pickpockets, theft, and other forms of minor crime are frequent in tourist locations, especially on Jumeirah Beach.
Be aware of riptides
If you plan to swim at the beach, be aware of riptides. Riptides are dangerous, so you should try to stay away from them at all costs.
Travel alerts
The United States Department of State has put out a level 3 "reconsider travel" alert for the United Arab Emirates because missiles or drones could attack the country.
Remember to buy travel insurance.
Not only can it help you financially in case of a medical emergency, but a travel insurance can also help cover the costs of any accidents.
Local Cuisine and Beverages to try
Visiting new places and trying new food are one of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling. Don't allow yourself to leave Dubai unless you’ve tried at least one of the following:
Khuzi is considered the national meal of the United Arab Emirates. It is traditionally prepared with either lamb or mutton and is served on top of rice, veggies, and nuts.
Luqaimat is hot donut-like dumplings prepared fresh and served with a sticky date sauce and sesame seeds
Camel milk ice cream is a thing you can buy, believe it or not!
Machboos is a classic dish consisting of spicy rice with dried lemon and either prawn, chicken, or lamb.
Khubz is an Arabic flatbread that is traditionally eaten with dips.
Arabic, coffee-characterized by a light roast, is flavored with cardamom and is served in very small cups.
Jellab, a chilled beverage, is typically served with pinenuts and raisins. It is produced by mixing grape molasses and rose water.
Laban is a creamy buttermilk drink that is high in protein.
Although Dubai has not traditionally been recognized for its plant-based cuisine, the city is increasingly catering to alternative diets, so vegans and vegetarians will have many options.
Even though most places in Dubai don't serve alcohol, it's easy to find it in hotels, restaurants, and pubs that cater to tourists and ex-pats.
How reliable is the Wi-Fi?
According to Ookla, a service that tests internet speeds, the average download speed in Dubai for December 2022 was 184.66 megabits per second (Mbps) and the average upload speed was 25.77 Mbps.
What is the Maximum Duration of Stay Permitted?
Visitors from the United States get free 30-day tourist visas when they arrive in Dubai. Visitors will have to present a passport that is still valid for at least six months after the date they arrive. They may also have to prove they have a return ticket to leave the country.
Through the Remote Working Program, U.S. citizens who want to stay in Dubai for a long time can do so for up to a year at a time. Digital nomads and people who work from home are increasingly moving to Dubai.
About The Author
Robeena Brown is a travel blogger & destination expert living in the UAE and works for local tourism companies like Arabiers. If you have been looking forward to touring Dubai, getting a visa, extending stays and exploring the city, you can follow her on social media.
